---
title: These 8 startups are among the top in the Midwest—and the U.S. | purpose.jobs
description: Why are only 2 startups on LinkedIn's list of the best 50 startups from the Midwest? Check out which top Midwest startups should be added to the list.
---

[Purpose Jobs blog: startup news & stories about purpose at work ](https://www.purpose.jobs/blog)

# [These 8 startups are among the top in the Midwest—and the U.S. | purpose.jobs](https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/startups-among-the-top-in-the-midwest-and-the-us)

 Written by [Ryan Landau](https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/author/ryan-landau) | 9/22/20 8:34 PM

Why were there only two Midwest startups on LinkedIn’s [recent list](https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/linkedin-top-startups-2020-50-us-companies-rise-jessi-hempel/) of the top 50 startups on the rise? 

Cameo, based in [Chicago](https://www.purpose.jobs/chicago?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=community) (as well as [remotely](https://www.purpose.jobs/remote-jobs?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=community)), and Seamless.AI, based in [Columbus](https://www.purpose.jobs/columbus?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=community), are really awesome startups, and we were so happy to see them on the list. We just think LinkedIn missed a couple more major Midwest players. 

There’s this myth that only the top startups come out of Silicon Valley or New York City. As a Midwest company built for Midwest startups, we know that’s just not true. 

[Top Midwest startups](https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/top-midwest-startups-watch-2020?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=community) in Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Columbus have continued to crush the startup game—raising money, hiring top talent, and making some major news headlines. 

So here’s who we would have added to LinkedIn’s list:

## 8 Midwest startups with a newsworthy 2020

### 1. Root Insurance, Columbus

One of the [best startups in Columbus](https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/top-columbus-startups-watch-2020?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=community), Root Insurance is a powerhouse Midwest tech company with over 500 employees, and $527.5 million in total funding. According to [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-root-insurance-ipo/car-insurance-start-up-root-hires-goldman-sachs-to-lead-ipo-sources-idUSKCN26C31H), they’re looking at a $6 billion valuation in a potential IPO. 

### 2. Rivian, Plymouth, Mich.

Rivian has been making a lot of headlines this year for new investments and partnerships with companies like Amazon. In July, they announced they raised [$2.5 billion](https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/10/rivian-raises-massive-2-5-billion-as-it-pushes-to-bring-its-electric-pickup-suv-to-market/), bringing their total funding up to $5.6 billion. This [top startup](https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/top-detroit-startups-hiring-now?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=community) was also among the first five companies to get financing from the [Amazon Climate Pledge Fund](https://www.freightwaves.com/news/rivian-among-first-five-companies-to-nab-funding-from-amazon-climate-fund). 

### 3. Olive, Columbus

Olive has had an outstanding year. They raised [$51 million in March](https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/top-q1-2020-startup-funding-columbus?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=community), and they just announced another funding round of [$106 million this month](https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/columbus-startup-olive-raises-106mm-expand-ai-healthcare-workforce?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=community). They’ve been attracting top talent with their financial growth as well as their unique “On The Grid” work model. 

### 4. Argo AI, Pittsburg

With major investments from Ford ($1 billion) and Volkswagen ($2.6 billion), Argo AI has been making top headlines—and technology—this year. Back in July, TechCrunch [reported](https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/30/self-driving-startup-argo-ai-hits-7-5-billion-valuation/) that the company was valued at $7.5 billion. 

### 5. StockX, Detroit

Since 2015, StockX has been a major tech player, not just in [Detroit](https://www.purpose.jobs/detroit?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=community) but in the Midwest and beyond. They’ve raised over $160 million, and recently, their gross merchandise value just passed [$1 billion](https://stockx.com/news/state-of-resale/). 

### 6. Tempus, Chicago

A top Chicago startup, Tempus was started by Detroit native and co-founder of Groupon Eric Lefkofsky to make data-driven precision medicine a reality. Since 2015, the company has been [growing its team](https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/top-midwest-tech-companies-hiring-software-engineers-right-now?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=community) and getting some major investments. This year, they raised [$100 million](https://www.chicagobusiness.com/john-pletz-technology/lefkofskys-tempus-raises-100-million-expand-beyond-cancer), bringing their total funding up to $620 million. 

### 7. Lessonly, Indianapolis

Based in [Indy](https://www.purpose.jobs/indianapolis?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=community), Lessonly is an online education platform for corporate training. Not only did they raise [$15 million](https://www.lessonly.com/series-c/) this year, bringing their total funding up to $29 million, but they also have a platform that is used by over 3 million learners. 

### 8. Duolingo, Pittsburgh

Duolingo has been a steadfast startup, both in [Pittsburgh](https://www.purpose.jobs/pittsburgh?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=community) and in the U.S The language-learning app has raised nearly $150 million. Its most recent round of $30 million brought the company’s valuation up to [$1.5 billion](https://venturebeat.com/2019/12/04/duolingo-raises-30-million-from-alphabets-capitalg-at-1-5-billion-valuation/). 

Want to join a top Midwest startup? Join our free talent community to start applying for tech and startup jobs. 

[View full post](https://www.purpose.jobs/blog/startups-among-the-top-in-the-midwest-and-the-us)

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